P35 | Production of domestic cricket powder (Acheta domesticus) for food purposes: regulatory framework and characterization of an Italian company

G. Spatola¹, C. Girardi^1|2, A. Gori¹, A. Giusti¹, F. Renzi³, G. Nardone², L. Cianti⁴, T. Pinto⁵, A. Armani¹ | ¹Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa; ²Unità Funzionale di Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria e Sicurezza Alimentare, ASL Competente Toscana – Centro, Pistoia; ³Unità Operativa Complessa Igiene Alimenti di Origine Animale, AST Macerata; ⁴ Unità Funzionale di Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria e Sicurezza Alimentare, ASL Toscana Centro, Firenze 2, Calenzano; ⁵Responsabile Qualità Azienda caso studio, Italy

Purpose. The growing attention toward the environmental sustainability of agri-food production has stimulated a strong interest in using insects as a new protein source. The production of insect-based Novel Food (NF) presents specific challenges regarding the hygiene requirements that food business operators (FBOs) must comply with and that the competent authorities (CAs) are tasked with verifying. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the regulatory framework and specific hygiene requirements applicable to a company producing insect-based NF in Italy, and the official control activities (OC) implemented by the AC. Methods. A regulatory framework analysis and characterization of the production process of an Italian company, currently involved in the production of insect-based feed and the NF "domestic cricket powder (Acheta domesticus)", were conducted. Specifically, two separate interviews were conducted with the OSA and the official veterinarian, respectively, and the following were investigated: i) the size and production profile of the company; ii) the regulatory framework under Community and national legislation; iii) the characterization of domestic cricket (A. domesticus) powder and its production process; iv) the CU activities carried out by the veterinarian responsible for the establishment. Results. The company under consideration is a micro-enterprise whose activities range from primary production (i.e., breeding domestic crickets) to retail sales. In 2020, it began its A. domesticus breeding activity for use in feed production. In 2024, it will begin producing NF "domestic house cricket powder (A. domesticus)" for the food market under the consent of Fair Insects B.V., the current holder of the European Union authorization to place the aforementioned NF on the market (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/188). Therefore, by producing both feed and food based on A. domesticus, the company must comply with the general requirements laid down in the following regulations: Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, Regulation (EC) No 183/2005, Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and the specific hygiene requirements laid down in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/188. The company is correctly registered in accordance with Regulation (EC) 183/2005 on the hygiene of feed production and Regulation (EC) 852/2004. Insect-based foods are not currently covered by Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, and the specific hygiene requirements for the NF under consideration are therefore laid down in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/188, along with its characteristics and those of its production process. The audits conducted focused on evaluating the company's adaptation process to the requirements mentioned earlier, with particular attention to specific hygiene and health requirements. Conclusions. Through the analysis of the only Italian company operating in the edible insect supply chain, this study has allowed us to define the regulatory framework and specific hygiene requirements for Italian companies intending to operate in this sector. This study could represent the first step toward establishing guidelines dedicated to edible insect supply chain operators, while also providing useful indications for defining the operational tools to be implemented for CU.